First cinematic trailer confirms Mass Effect: Andromeda is still coming in spring 2017

After a tease, some gameplay and a "making-of" video, the latest Mass Effect game has finally got its first proper trailer, dubbed a "cinematic reveal". Focusing on spectacle, it doesn't tell us much that's new, but shows off some exciting places to go and things to kill, and confirms the game is on track to launch next spring.

It’s November 7, or N7 Day, and you know what that means: Mass Effect news. After months of precious little information, we’ve now got an official cinematic reveal trailer for the latest game in BioWare's space opera RPG franchise.

The trailer description reads “the journey to Andromeda begins now. Navigate the uncharted reaches of the Andromeda Galaxy to unravel its mysteries, discover vivid alien worlds, and lead the charge to find a new home among the stars. How far will you go to become humanity’s hero?”

According to a sinister voiceover, we arrived in the Andromeda galaxy dreaming peaceful dreams of a new home, only to be rapidly disabused of such ideas. Some disaster befalls what we assume is a colony ship, and the player character is named "the new Pathfinder". Our role, we assume (again), will be to explore new planets and perhaps clear the path for settlers. The narrator reiterates that, this time, “we are the aliens”, as we appear in a foreign galaxy as an invading species.

Beyond the broad themes of humanity looking for a new home - or colony - we still know little of the new game’s story, and the trailer does little to fill in those narrative blanks. Instead, there’s a focus on the exotic discoveries to be made, with a range of colourful aliens showcased, and pieces of high technology shooting energy into the sky or suspending gravity.

After going so long without seeing anything new, and following one delay into early 2017, plenty of sceptics had expected to see Mass Effect Andromeda delayed again. EA said in a recent earnings call that they were prepared to do this "if they have to", but thus far there's no sign of it happening. The trailer and its description reconfirms that the game is still on track to release in spring of that year on PC and console.